Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was approximately $60,000 in 2024. Licensed counselors in private practice settings or specialized clinical roles — such as trauma-informed therapy, eating disorder treatment, or forensic mental health — typically earn toward the higher end of the range, with experienced clinicians in metropolitan areas often exceeding $75,000–$90,000. Salary also varies significantly by state: counselors in California, New York, and Connecticut — where SHU has strong regional employer recognition — generally earn above the national median.

CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counseling) is the degree — the master’s program you earn. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), and LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) are all state-issued licenses that you apply for after completing your degree and supervised hours — and the specific title depends entirely on which state you practice in. For example, Connecticut and New York use LMHC; most other states use LPC or a variation. Sacred Heart’s CMHC curriculum is built on CACREP standards to meet the educational requirements for licensure across the majority of U.S. states, regardless of the specific license title your state uses.

After completing SHU’s 60-credit CMHC program, licensure involves an additional supervised experience requirement that varies by state — most states require 2,000 to 4,000 post-degree supervised hours under a licensed clinical supervisor. In Connecticut, for example, provisional licensees (working toward LMHC) complete 3,000 supervised hours, which typically takes two to three years of full-time employment in a clinical setting. Many graduates complete this requirement while working as a counselor associate or provisional licensee, so the supervision process does not delay your ability to enter the workforce — it simply determines when you can practice fully independently.

Yes. SHU’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is built on CACREP standards — the framework most state licensing boards use to evaluate educational preparation. The program is designed to meet the coursework requirements for licensure in all U.S. states, including Connecticut (LMHC), New York (LMHC), Massachusetts (LMHC), and New Jersey (LPC). Because licensure rules differ by state and are subject to change, students planning to seek licensure in a specific state should confirm current requirements with that state’s licensing board at the start of their program — not after graduation. Explore state-specific elective requirements here.

While many CMHC graduates pursue clinical counseling roles in private practice or outpatient settings, the degree opens a broader range of career options. Graduates work as program directors and clinical supervisors at community mental health centers, crisis intervention specialists, employee assistance program (EAP) counselors in corporate settings, school-based mental health counselors, telehealth therapists, and policy consultants for mental health advocacy organizations. With additional state-specific credentials, CMHC graduates can also specialize in areas such as substance use disorder treatment, trauma-informed care, or play therapy — the latter of which SHU also offers as a certificate program.